Get that swing!

Civitan Club presents the Hendersonville Swing Band in concert Nov. 7 at Hendersonville High School auditorium

Special to the Times-News

Published: Sunday, October 25, 2009 at 4:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, October 22, 2009 at 7:22 p.m.

Each year, area residents who remember the live music of the Big Bands of the '30s and '40s eagerly look forward to a performance by Hendersonville's own Swing Machine, the Hendersonville Swing Band.

The 18-piece Hendersonville Swing Band, which replicates the sensations of the memorable bands that created the swing music still loved by many today, will play a concert at 3 p.m. Nov. 7 in the Hendersonville High School Auditorium to benefit the Civitan Club of Hendersonville.

Band members take pride in styling their music to conform with the sounds of the original masters of the Big Band Era.

Directed by Jerry Zink, the Swing Band will play Big Band favorites of the '30s and '40s as well as several tunes in honor of Veterans Day.

Proceeds from the concert will be used to fund scholarships for graduating high school seniors and to provide financial support to local agencies and events such as Helping Hand, Special Olympics and Vocational Solutions of Henderson County. In addition, the club sends money to the Civitan International Research Center in Birmingham, Ala., to help fund research to find the causes and cures for birth defects and developmental disabilities.

The Hendersonville Swing Band is an outgrowth of two earlier groups that rehearsed and performed in Henderson County since 1983. The original organization was more of a society orchestra led by Irvin Grimm called the Grimm Aces.

In the late '80s, the group evolved into a small dance band called the Stardusters. Players were added to the band until about 1994 when it finally became the Hendersonville Swing Band.

Only one member of the original Stardusters Band is still active in the Hendersonville Swing Band today. Seven of the current band members now in their 80s have been playing and listening to this music for more than 60 years.

In honor of Veterans Day, which will be observed four days after the concert, the band will open the concert with an inspiring arrangement of the "Star Spangled Banner" followed by a favorite from the Glenn Miller Orchestra called "American Patrol."

The Swing Band will play two numbers written by Count Bill Basie, "Jumpin' at the Woodside" and "Shiny Stockings." To cover Duke Ellington, the band will perform his "It Don't Mean a Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing." Other tunes on their play list include "920 Special," "Jersey Bounce," "Back Bay Shuffle" and a cute little number called "Bunky."

Band leader and trombonist Zink will introduce each number and add a little of his understated dry wit as he relates to the audience. Swing Band solos will be performed by trumpeter Jim Lane, formerly with the 42nd Street Band, who will play the beautiful "What's New?" by bassist Bob Haggart. Lane will get in a Latin mood later and perform Perez Prado's version of "Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White." Alto saxophonist Marilyn Campbell will be featured on "You Go to My Head," a tune written be J. Fred Coots. And the whole trombone section will be spotlighted during at least one number, "All the Things You Are," by Oscar Hammerstein and Jerome Kern.

The charitable donations made possible by this concert reflect the mission of Civitan to build good citizenship and to serve individual and community needs with an emphasis on helping people with developmental disabilities.

Tickets for the concert are $10 and may be obtained from the Visitors Information Center on Main Street, the Opportunity House and all Hendersonville Civitan members. Tickets will also be available at the door the day of the concert.

For more information about the Swing Band Concert or the Hendersonville Civitan Club, call Jerry Zink at (828) 696-8031.

<p>Each year, area residents who remember the live music of the Big Bands of the '30s and '40s eagerly look forward to a performance by Hendersonville's own Swing Machine, the Hendersonville Swing Band.</p><p>The 18-piece Hendersonville Swing Band, which replicates the sensations of the memorable bands that created the swing music still loved by many today, will play a concert at 3 p.m. Nov. 7 in the Hendersonville High School Auditorium to benefit the Civitan Club of Hendersonville.</p><p>Band members take pride in styling their music to conform with the sounds of the original masters of the Big Band Era.</p><p>Directed by Jerry Zink, the Swing Band will play Big Band favorites of the '30s and '40s as well as several tunes in honor of Veterans Day.</p><p>Proceeds from the concert will be used to fund scholarships for graduating high school seniors and to provide financial support to local agencies and events such as Helping Hand, Special Olympics and Vocational Solutions of Henderson County. In addition, the club sends money to the Civitan International Research Center in Birmingham, Ala., to help fund research to find the causes and cures for birth defects and developmental disabilities.</p><p>The Hendersonville Swing Band is an outgrowth of two earlier groups that rehearsed and performed in Henderson County since 1983. The original organization was more of a society orchestra led by Irvin Grimm called the Grimm Aces.</p><p>In the late '80s, the group evolved into a small dance band called the Stardusters. Players were added to the band until about 1994 when it finally became the Hendersonville Swing Band.</p><p>Only one member of the original Stardusters Band is still active in the Hendersonville Swing Band today. Seven of the current band members now in their 80s have been playing and listening to this music for more than 60 years.</p><p>In honor of Veterans Day, which will be observed four days after the concert, the band will open the concert with an inspiring arrangement of the "Star Spangled Banner" followed by a favorite from the Glenn Miller Orchestra called "American Patrol."</p><p>The Swing Band will play two numbers written by Count Bill Basie, "Jumpin' at the Woodside" and "Shiny Stockings." To cover Duke Ellington, the band will perform his "It Don't Mean a Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing." Other tunes on their play list include "920 Special," "Jersey Bounce," "Back Bay Shuffle" and a cute little number called "Bunky."</p><p>Band leader and trombonist Zink will introduce each number and add a little of his understated dry wit as he relates to the audience. Swing Band solos will be performed by trumpeter Jim Lane, formerly with the 42nd Street Band, who will play the beautiful "What's New?" by bassist Bob Haggart. Lane will get in a Latin mood later and perform Perez Prado's version of "Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White." Alto saxophonist Marilyn Campbell will be featured on "You Go to My Head," a tune written be J. Fred Coots. And the whole trombone section will be spotlighted during at least one number, "All the Things You Are," by Oscar Hammerstein and Jerome Kern.</p><p>The charitable donations made possible by this concert reflect the mission of Civitan to build good citizenship and to serve individual and community needs with an emphasis on helping people with developmental disabilities.</p><p>Tickets for the concert are $10 and may be obtained from the Visitors Information Center on Main Street, the Opportunity House and all Hendersonville Civitan members. Tickets will also be available at the door the day of the concert.</p><p>For more information about the Swing Band Concert or the Hendersonville Civitan Club, call Jerry Zink at (828) 696-8031.</p>